December 31, 2011

Our day was absolutely magical in so many ways. Dinner out was perfectly wonderful and thoroughly enjoyed by all. Photographs did not turn out and I'm concerned that something is amiss with my camera. Will check on that in the morning.

So, one malfunctioned photograph is all which is available. HAPPY NEW YEAR from Ivan, Kathleen and Donna. All the very very best for 2012. Enjoy the first day of the new year. Thanks so much for stopping by. xxoo

Edith Lovejoy PierceWe will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called "Opportunity" and its first chapter is New Year's Day.

December 30, 2011

It was truly one of those lovely days. Relaxed, unhurried, no expectations kind of day. Left the house about 10:30 am after our fresh coffee and began with an hour of meditation with a group at Life Path centre. Came away feeling wonderful. By then we were hungry so went out for Comida of chicken with roasted vegetables, guacamole and beans accompanied by warm corn tortillas and limonada. YUM.

After doing some banking, Ivan went home to consult with a client while Kathleen and I continued our exploration of centro. The atmosphere was electric today, the place full of people and happiness. It felt so good. We shopped. We sat and had coffee.

We walked and shopped and walked and finally sat in the jardin to read the paper to see what was going on in San Miguel. Took some photos.

Creche was up in the Jardin

Centro was buzzing, busy and happy.

looking up

Tomorrow is New Year's Eve! We are going out for an early dinner and home to relax.

Hope whatever you do tomorrow night you thoroughly enjoy yourselves. Thanks for the visit. Take care. xxoo Donna

The most sacred place dwells within our heart, where dreams are born and secrets sleep, a mystical refuge of darkness and light, fear and conquest, adventure and discovery, challenge and transformation. Our heart speaks for our soul every moment while we are alive. Listen... as the whispering beat repeats: be...gin, be...gin, be...gin. It's really that simple. Just begin... again. Royce Addington

December 29, 2011

Spent a busy day yesterday doing last minute errands etc. for Kathleen and Ivan's visit. They will be here with us for a few days until their rental house is ready. It was one of those days when nothing went quite according to plan ... hairdresser had a little note on her door she was on holiday, the mail I was expecting is nowhere to be found (nothing new there), Habibi choked on his food he was so excited and his throat went into some sort of spasms which made it hard to breathe, and after I was dressed, I decided to fix the logs in the fireplace ... well .... SOOT from one end of me to the other. I had no idea that stuff was so hard to get off!

Habibi snuggled in the sheepskin 'waiting'.

Anyway, after a few mishaps on this end, they arrived after smooth sailing, about 11:00 pm. First order of the day was to 'get comfortable', so here's a darling photo of Kathleen coming into the living room with her nightie on. We drank champagne and ate brie until 2:30 am. Nice! Very very nice!

Terrible quality photograph, but too 'cute' not to publish.

Oh so fabulous to have them here.

Good Friends: "“We are all a little weird and life's a little weird, and when we find someone whose weirdness is compatible with ours, we join up with them and fall in mutual weirdness and call it love. After that we are there for each other, no matter what.” (I thought that was sort of a cool definition and in many ways very true.)

December 27, 2011

I painted all day. Couldn't stop. Finally dragged myself away about 5:30 pm. "Expect Miracles" has come a long way. She informed me she wanted jewels. Not just any jewels. Rosary chain and Our Lady of Guadalupe medals hanging from each end. She wanted them in her head dress.

I asked her what she would like to be presented to her in the outstretched hand. No answer. I was just opening my box of old jewelry and junk and what fell out? A milagro (miracle), namely the 'big miracle' ... Our Lady of Guadalupe. Quietly I heard her say, "What else would I want in the outstretched hand if I am Expecting Miracles. That was the end of our conversation!

I worked like a mad woman. I was driven. The jewels are in her head dress. I love them there. There is still more work to be done on her neck/shoulders and the outstretched hand as well as her crown and halo. Who knows what is to come. We made real progress today and I didn't struggle one little bit. Amazing.

It's difficult to see the jewels. There are rhinestones in her earrings, and down the right side, rosary beads and two medals are in her head dress. So difficult to get a good shot because of the light.

OK, so I baked some banana bread tonight! A truly amazing event as I have not baked since arriving in Mexico. Mine does not look anything like the 'real thing', which you will find HERE, on Suzeque's blog, along with the recipe and mouth watering photographs which make mine look like a home economics class beginner. ha ha. The thing about this banana bread which is different is that it has coconut in it and an incredible LIME GLAZE drizzled over the top! Here's my version -- now go over and visit Suzeque!

Thanks for the visit. xxoo Donna

The true miracle is not walking on water or walking in air, but simply walking on this earth. ~ Thich Nhat Hanh

December 26, 2011

I think my muse might have poked her head into the studio for a moment or two today. "Expect Miracles" has made some progress, although she's still very very quiet. I made a correction to her face, so the "blob shadow" on the left side of her face will be corrected, hopefully tomorrow. Still don't know what she wants or what is in the outstretched hand before her. Obviously, it's not her hand, so someone is offering her something. What? I'll let you know when I find out.

Thanks so much for dropping by. Have a great day. xxoo Donna

I'm very interested to see how this new painting will go - I know I want it big and stark, and as I said, I follow the muse, and that's when it always works perfectly for me. Jackie DeShannon

December 25, 2011

A beautiful day, full of sunshine, began with a fabulous home cooked breakfast with Wendy and Sal at Wendy's ... just a short walk away.

Wendy's Christmas cards .. living room.

Breakfast table

card for a friend

Christmas Eve journal spread

Thanks for the visit. Hope your Christmas was a lovely one. xxoo Donna

What is Christmas? It is tenderness for the past, courage for the present, hope for the future. It is a fervent wish that every cup may overflow with blessings rich and eternal, and that every path may lead to peace. - Agnes M. Pharo

December 24, 2011

We (Habibi and me) have thought a lot about you today. How you drop in and visit. How you take a real interest in our lives. How you leave your support in words on the pages of this blog. How I have met so many really lovely people through this medium. How much I appreciate the lives who touch my life in so many ways.

Just want to say a big thank you, send you a Christmas hug across the miles to so many parts of the world. May your Christmas be filled with peace, love, joy and a lot of hope. What more can we really ask for. Enjoy your day whatever you do, and wherever you are. xxoo Donna and Habibi

The best we could do with photo booth. ha ha

Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful. ~Norman Vincent Peale

December 23, 2011

Wendy and Sal came for the evening. We enjoyed a lovely evening filled with good conversation, Christmas music and a dinner prepared from scratch! (Not sure what's going on there, but I had the urge, so why fight it?!)

You haven't seen around the house lately, so I thought I'd give you a little Christmas update.

Thanks to all of you who drop by .. and a special thanks for all your wonderful supportive comments. They are so special. xxoo Donna

“Christmas gift suggestions:To your enemy, forgiveness.To an opponent, tolerance.To a friend, your heart. To a customer, service. To all, charity. To every child, a good example. To yourself, respect.” Oren Arnold

December 22, 2011

Hard to get my head around the fact that Saturday is Christmas Eve. My, how this year has flown.

Went shopping today and did a little creating this afternoon. Wanted to make a 'quick' card, which turned into a nightmare. Not in love with the finished product either. Isn't that always the way. Had to laugh, everything went wrong ... you know how it is when it starts. There is music on the other side of the red background paper which I had intended to use. However, with my head in the clouds somewhere I plastered the music side with glue and then went 'damn'! Still, it's OK and I'm not going to fuss anymore. Also did a spread in my journal which is always quite satisfying.

Hope you are enjoying your preparations for the holidays and the seasons festivities . Thanks for stopping by. xxoo Donna

"Christmas--that magic blanket that wraps itself about us, that something so intangible that it is like a fragrance. It may weave a spell of nostalgia. Christmas may be a day of feasting, or of prayer, but always it will be a day of remembrance--a day in which we think of everything we have ever loved." -- Augusta E. Rundel

December 20, 2011

It was a glorious morning in San Miguel. I sat in my favorite restaurant overlooking the Jardin, enjoying the Mexican sun as it warmed my shoulders. Sipping on a capuccino with a double shot of espresso I watched the world go by. It felt very good. Very very good.

San Miguel is not dressed to the nines this Christmas like she was last year. There is no huge tree in the Jardin and not near as many poinsettia's. No live animals or in fact a creche set up. Must have been heavy budget cuts somewhere. Like most places in the world, San Miguel is suffering in these economic times. Still, as I said it was a beautiful day and I did enjoy walking with my camera capturing a little of the atmosphere of Christmas.

Thanks for having a lookie loo --- take care. xxoo Donna

W. J. Tucker, Pulpit Preaching For centuries men have kept an appointment with Christmas. Christmas means fellowship, feasting, giving and receiving, a time of good cheer, home.